Find out about activating a PlayStation 4 to access your PSN account.

Video: "Activating and Deactivating the PS4 as a Primary Console"

How to activate your PS4 system

Just sign into your PSN account on your PS4 and follow the onscreen instructions.

If you’re activating a second PS4 or you’re signing into PSN on a friend’s system, you might want to learn a little more about activation to keep your PSN account secure but accessible, so you can safely share selected account benefits.

Who’s PS4 are you signing into?

Your PS4

Select your local user or select [New User] on the PS4 system’s log-in screen. This is the first screen you see after your PS4 starts up.

Sign into PSN.

If you don’t have another system activated on your PSN account, this PS4 is automatically activated as your primary, so you won’t see step 4.

If you have a primary PS4 already, you’ll see a screen asking if you’d like to make this system your primary PS4. Choose [Change Primary PS4].

You can also activate a system as your Primary PS4 later. Go to [Settings] > [PlayStation Network/Account Management] > [Activate as Your Primary PlayStation 4] > [Activate] and follow the instructions to do this.

A friend’s PS4

Only activate your own PS4 as your primary system. This is to make sure that everyone who uses your home PS4 can keep access to all shared features and services, even if you’re signed into PSN elsewhere.

To avoid accidentally activating your friend’s system on your account follow these steps:

On the PS4 system’s log-in screen select [Play as a Guest] to create a temporary local user.

Sign into PSN.

More information about activation

Activation authorises a device to access your PlayStation Store content, subscriptions and other account features. You can activate one PS4 as your primary system and activating another will switch your primary system.

Only your own PS4 should be activated as your primary console.

Here are some of the PSN account features that you can only use on your primary system, so you can’t use them on a temporarily activated PS4: